News Corp. has announced that Bedi Singh will step down as chief financial officer on March 1. Susan Panuccio, currently cfo of News Corp. Australia, will succeed him. Executive chairman Rupert Murdoch said in the release: “Through his astute financial management of key acquisitions and divestitures, and with the prudent institution of cost controls across the businesses, Bedi has helped News Corp. weather the challenges of this era better than its peers, and put it on firm footing for long-term growth and profitability.” Singh, who has served as cfo since 2013, will continue to advise the company on digital property interests […]
Obits
People: Lorena Jones Imprint Ready to Launch, and More
Ten Speed Press formally announced the launch of Lorena Jones Books, the cooking and lifestyle imprint overseen by vp, publisher Lorena Jones, who rejoined the imprint in September 2015 to begin work on the new line. Set to begin publishing in April will publish 6 to 8 titles annually in the areas of cooking, work life, and health. Initial launch titles include Tartine All Day by Elisabeth Prueitt; Peppers of the Americas by Maricel Presilla; and Cheers to the Publican, Repast and Present by Paul Kahan. Ten Speed Press publisher Aaron Wehner said in the announcement. “Shaped by Lorena’s creative vision, […]
People
Eric Lupfer is joining Fletcher & Company as an agent, moving over from William Morris Endeavor, where he has been for fourteen years. Lupfer specializes in non-fiction ranging from history, science, and economics, to narrative journalism and current affairs. At Trident Media Group, Alexa Stark has been promoted to literary agent, focusing primarily on literary fiction, upmarket commercial fiction, and narrative nonfiction. Mary Austin Speaker joins Milkweed Editions as art director on January 17. Franco Alvarado is leaving FW Media, where he was senior technical production specialist for three years, to launch Franco Alvarado Consulting, providing ebook development and QA, print book design, […]
People
In the UK, Juliet Mushens and Robert Caskie have formed a new literary agency, Caskie Mushens. Mushens has left UTA and will bring her clients over with her; Caskie had left PFD, where he was chief operating officer as well as an agent, in early 2016, saying he intended to explore new opportunities “in a related industry.” Separately, another former UTA agent Sarah Manning has joined the Bent Agency, based in London. She will expand the UK office’s representation into adult fiction and nonfiction. At Penguin Random House in the US, Debra Polansky has been hired as vp, director of sales for Penguin Children’s, under Felicia Frazier. She previously […]
Briefs
The Costco Pennie’s Pick for January is Amy Stewart‘s Girl Waits With Gun (HMH) while the company’s book club pick for the month is The Tumbling Turner Sisters (Gallery) by Juliette Fay. Updating our very best of the best books of 2016 report, Jacqueline Woodson is represented now by Kathleen Nishimoto at William Morris Endeavor. Also, USA Today weighed in with their top 10 books of the year (now added to our vote count), also naming Colson Whitehead as their author of the year. Announcements The Ward & Balkin Agency is being acquired by Roam Agency as of July 1, 2017, when […]
People, Etc.
Steven Pace will join Norton on January 2 as director, trade sales, succeeding William Rusin, who is retiring after 45 years with the company at 36 years as director of trade sales. Pace was previously sales director at Workman. Norton vp trade sales & marketing Brendan Curry said in the announcement: “There are few people who could step smoothly into the shoes of the exceptional Bill Rusin, but Steven Pace is superbly qualified to do so. With his background in all aspects of book sales at firms both large and small, his outstanding reputation for management and leadership, and his sterling […]